University of Maine-Presque Isle basketball coach Marc Heidorf steps down

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — University of Maine-Presque Isle women’s basketball coach and Sports Information Director Marc Heidorf has resigned from the position he has held the last two years.

“This is largely a personal decision,” Heidorf said in a press release. “I have enjoyed my time in Presque Isle. We welcomed a daughter to our clan this year. An opportunity was presented where I could advance my professional career while giving her a chance to meet and grow up with her extended family.”

Heidorf guided the Owls basketball team through the athletic department’s first two seasons as both NCAA and United States Collegiate Athletic Association independents.

Last season, a young UMPI team started 0-8 but bounced back and went 8-9 the rest of the way to finish at 8-17. The Owls graduated only one senior.

“I am confident that we got both the basketball program and sports information department moving in the right direction,” Heidorf said.

UMPI interim athletic director Paul Stone said a nationwide search for a replacement will begin immediately.

“We are sad to see Marc go,” said Stone, “He accomplished a lot in his two years in Presque isle. As the sports information director he helped launch a new athletics website and introduced live streaming of our basketball games this past winter. His energy and expertise will be missed.”

UMaine athletes recognized

The U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has announced that Corey Conner of West Townsend, Mass., and Jesse Labreck of Oakland, Maine, have been honored as Honorable Mention All-Americans.

Conner earned the status after placing 21st at the NCAA championships in the 10,000 meters with a time of 35 minutes, 10.07 seconds.

Labreck was recognized after finishing 19th at the championships in the heptathlon with a final score of 5,423 points.

Conner leaves Maine as the school-record holder in the 10,000 (33:28.87), the 5,000 (15:55.60) and the 1,500 (4:27.00).

Labreck is Maine’s all-time leader in the heptathlon with 5,551 points in her win at the 2013 ECAC championships. She also holds school marks in the high jump (5-11.50), the triple jump (41-00.25) and the 100m hurdles (13.45).

USM’s Bean honored

University of Southern Maine director of athletics Al Bean has been recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics as an Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year.

Bean was among 28 winners of the award across seven divisions, earning the distinction in the Division III category. He will be recognized Saturday at the NACDA annual convention in Orlando, Fla.

Bean has been the AD at USM since 1993, when he took over on an interim basis. He is responsible for overseeing the school’s athletics program, which encompasses 23 varsity teams, and was instrumental in the planning for the school’s field house, ice arena, soccer field and baseball field.

The former high school teacher and freelance sportswriter, who earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in education from USM, also has been active in numerous NCAA committees and other boards.

UM sets free football coaches clinic

The University of Maine football coaching staff, in conjunction with the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, will conduct its fourth annual Free Youth and High School Coaches Clinic on Thursday at Morse Field on the University of Maine campus.

The emphasis will be on teaching fundamentals and techniques and drill work for specific positional areas. This clinic is geared toward the development of youth- and freshmen-level coaches.

Black Bear coaches will give two simultaneous presentations of 50 minutes each, one on offense, one on defense. For details, go to GoBlackBears.com.